Woman charged with selling pain pills at work

Bonnie Mueller, 53, of Barberton, was arrested after task force agents saw her selling oxycodone to another employee in the parking lot of the business following an investigation, according to task force Director Gary Hubbard.

Hubbard said Wadsworth police referred his team to the case after receiving a complaint from Qualiform Inc., 689 Weber Drive.

Andrew Antonino, owner and president of the custom rubber molding company, said an employee told him Mueller was selling prescription drugs and he immediately contacted police.

Hubbard said the case took less than a week to complete after interviewing employees at Qualiform and confirming that Mueller was dealing.
He said he doesn’t usually name a company where an arrest occurs but praised Qualiform for its cooperation.

“They were very cooperative during this investigation and did so to send a message to their employees that they have no tolerance for drug abuse or drug dealing amongst their employees,” he said.

Task force agents confiscated $70 in cash that was paid for five 10 mg pills of the synthetic opiate. Mueller was charged with trafficking in oxycodone, a fourth-degree felony punishable by up to 18 months in prison.

Hubbard said the employee who was buying the drugs has not yet been charged. He said that person remains part of an ongoing investigation that could lead to charges against other Qualiform employees suspected of drug activity.

He said Mueller hasn’t offered any answers.

“We knew of a couple and we have proof that more were involved,” he said, “but she was completely unwilling to cooperate in any way whatsoever.”

Hubbard said he expects Qualiform internally may handle other suspects.

Antonino said Mueller — a floor-production worker at Qualiform since 2004 — is out of a job, but declined to comment on other employees, except to praise those who reported the drug activity.

“I’m very proud of people when they stand up and do the right thing and bring things to management’s attention so we can step up and do the right thing,” Antonino said.

He added: “As far as this activity, she must have determined she needed to supplement her income,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she tried to come back, but I would think she’d know she doesn’t have a job.”

Mueller was at the Medina County Jail on a $10,000, 10 percent, bond. She was arraigned by video Thursday morning in front of Wadsworth Municipal Court Judge Stephen B. McIlvaine.